Degree Level of Interest

NLU Program of Interest

Master's in Teaching, Learning and Assessment

M.Ed. in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

The Master of Education - Teaching, Learning and Assessment is designed for educators who want to craft an optimal learning experience for each student, and lead in their schools, districts, and other educational environments. Today's learners are ever more diverse in background, culture, and learning needs. At the same time, standardized assessment protocols provide only a single framework on evaluation of this diversity. National Louis University's Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (TLA) program prepares master's degree candidates to respond to these complex realities with a holistic approach to assessing learning needs, shaping effective curricula, and supporting student success.

NLU conveniently offers the Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (TLA) master's program as an on-campus option in Illinois and Florida, as well as online. The Master's in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment is also offered off-site at approved locations in Illinois.

A graduate of the Master's in Education - Teaching, Learning and Assessment program will:

Be a leader in differentiated learning — able to develop curriculum and instruction approaches that address social-emotional learning factors, learning styles, cultural and language backgrounds, and cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and developmental differences in multiple-needs general education classrooms. As teacher-leaders, graduates will also be prepared to help others in their schools to improve their own practices in differentiating learning.

Be an expert in assessment — adroit in designing assessment approaches to drive effective teaching and learning in real-time ("formative" evaluation) as well as in making appropriate use of standardized testing. (expertise in the rapidly evolving uses of assessment is a growing area of demand in schools, districts, and other professional environments.)

Be an accomplished action researcher — agile in applying techniques for observing, documenting, reflecting on, and refining the learning process to create continuous improvement in outcomes for students. Degree candidates complete a yearlong action research project based on real needs they perceive in their own classrooms; this capstone project can serve as the basis for thought leadership and training shared with the professional community.

Be a "real-time" agent of improvement in the learning environment. Since the Teaching, Learning, and Assessment program is built around enabling candidates to actively address the pressing realities of their classrooms, candidates are able to apply new skills and techniques — and share them with others — to bring immediate value to their classrooms and schools.

NLU offers classes and support for master's candidates also looking to earn National Board Certification (NBC). Please consult this list of classes for details on available NBC requirements and electives. For more information on NBC credit and support at NLU, please contact Suzanne Martinez at suzanne.martinez@nl.edu or 847-947-5118.

All applicants must meet NLU's general admission requirements as well as additional requirements specific to this program. Refer to the appropriate application checklist available online at nl.edu/applyonline.

Please note: The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) may change the state licensure and endorsement requirements at any time and without prior notice. Teacher candidates will be bound by the requirements in place when applying for licensure, not by the licensure requirements in place when beginning their program. That is, the state may specify that a new regulation is immediately applicable to all candidates with no provisions made for candidates who began their work on licensure under different regulations.

CHICAGO DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

NLU’s Chicago campus on South Michigan Avenue occupies five floors of the historic Peoples Gas Building. This landmark building, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park, is easily accessible by train, bus and car and is surrounded by restaurants, parking lots/garages and shops.

ELGIN

Conveniently located in a fast-growing business district off I-90 and Route 31, NLU Elgin features 10 classrooms with high-tech media equipment; a computer lab with high-speed Internet access; two conference rooms; and comfortable student lounges. Parking is free at this recently remodeled and upgraded teaching site, which now includes wireless Internet access.

NORTH SHORE

Opened in the summer of 2006, NLU North Shore at Skokie is a state-of-the-art modern campus located just off the Edens Expressway near the Old Orchard Shopping Center. The campus includes 44 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a walk-in lab in the library; six conference rooms; a public café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; and multiple, comfortable student lounge areas.

LISLE

Located just minutes from the East-West Tollway (I-88), NLU Lisle features 42 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a separate walk-in lab in the library; a café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; conference rooms; and six comfortable student lounge areas with wireless access.

WHEELING

Located in one of Chicago's major northwest suburbs, the newly renovated NLU Wheeling includes 20 classrooms with high-tech media equipment, four conference rooms, four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, large student lounge areas with wireless capabilities and interactive video capabilities, and an extensive research library. The site also houses the university library research collection.

FLORIDA (TAMPA)

Established in 1988 and located in one of the city's major business districts, NLU's Florida Regional Center serves students in 13 counties in central Florida. In addition to six classrooms, this location features a conference room, a computer lab with high-speed Internet access, an extensive research library and comfortable student lounges.

WISCONSIN

NLU has a proud history of serving graduate students in southeastern Wisconsin. We currently offer all Wisconsin residents online programs in non-licensure education as well as a variety of business-related degrees.